Should you buy one?

Yes, it’s one of the better electric cars you can buy – and Volkswagen’s latest round of incremental improvements have made it better still. As such, we rather like the ID.3. Its exterior design makes a statement without shouting about its eco-piety, while its interior feels innovative and distinctive. The higher quality trims also make this revised model feel more like you’re getting your money’s worth.

That’s good news, because the EV market is heating up with new, affordable rivals from China making their way out west. The Volkswagen’s engaging driving experience, better finish and alluring badge grant it credence in the space – so, if you’re in the market for an electric family hatchback, you shouldn’t ignore it.

But the opposition is marching hard. While the ID.3 is undeniably a more satisfying car to own than the MG 4 EV, we’re not convinced that it’s the extra £10,000 – especially when the MG is even better to drive. We also prefer the ID.3’s sportier sister, the Cupra Born, because it takes all the good bits of the car and wraps them in a better looking and better driving wrapper. It just feels more special. It’s a similar story to the Renault Megane E-Tech.

What we like

With its competitive driving range and fast charging capability, the ID.3 is an electric car that lots of drivers could use every day without needing to make big adjustments to their existing routines. In fact, if you can charge it at home overnight, you may never experience any electric car inconvenience at all. It would take a long journey for us to start worrying about public charger anxiety in one of these.

What we don’t like

It is not perfect by any means. Too many of the secondary controls are awkward to use, especially its annoying touchpads, while the decision for Volkswagen not to give us the improved infotainment that the European models get until mid-2024 is disappointing.